Composting Toilets

[diver110]

Having just read how some people have had black water valve issues, has anyone used a composting toilet on their 5th wheel?

[amandasgramma]

kmbelt wrote:
Problem Solved or Option 2

:B EITHER solution would result in a divorce here.

[kmbelt]

Problem Solved or Option 2

[kardar2]

If boondocking it is way worth it it will save you lots of water too. If you go to YouTube there is some great videos about diffent models. But if you always have access to full hookup it would be a tuff call to spend the money on it.

[valhalla360]

BigLoser wrote:
INCINOLET

PRICEY!! Probably not practical for boondocking but thought it might warrant some consideration.

We looked at those. They are popular on commercial fishing boats but commercial fishing boats run the engine 24/7 when away from the dock so the electrical draw to incinerate the poo isn't a big deal. They aren't popular with cruising boats.

With an RV, they fall into the catagory of not serving a purpose. If you are staying at campgrounds with power, there is usually a dump easily available. If you are boondocking, the power consumption is unreasonable.

Another downside in the RV context for composters, the liquid tank needs to be emptied every couple days (depends how many are using it). It's not difficult as you simply pull it out, walk it to any toilet, pour it in and then flush (no chemicals to worry about). With our RV system, we go a week without paying attention and can stretch that to two weeks if we need to. Most of the time we either move before then or we get a site with sewer if we will be there long term. Emptying the solids depends on a lot of things. We typically get 3-5wks before they need to be emptied. If you are just weekend camping and can let the compost finish, it's basically scooping potting soil with nothing recognizable. If you are full timing, you don't have that luxury, so you get a little more personal. It's not as horrible as it sounds but hooking up the sewer hose and pulling the valve is easier in an RV scenario.

[diver110]

valhalla360 wrote:

diver110 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
We don't have one in the 5th wheel but we've had one in the boat for around 6yrs.

Assuming can get access to a dump station on a regular basis, I would say they are a waste of time in an RV. It's quick easy and painless to dump an RV tank. Unless you do something to mess it up, the valves last many years.

On a boat, it's a different matter.
- Every campground has a dump station or on site sewer. While it's mandatory to have holding tanks, it's not uncommon to find you must take the boat hours travel away to find a pump out.
- Boat plumbing forces the solids thru hoses only 1.5" in diameter often with 90 degree bends. All done with complicated pumping mechanisms. In your RV, it's all gravity fed thru 4" diameter pipes with minimal bends. If you are inserting solids with greater than 4" diameter...you need to see a doctor.


- When you have a leak in a boat, it is stored in the bilge, often completely out of reach. In an RV, it typically winds up on the ground.

The problems that pushed us to get a composter for the boat largely don't exist for an RV.

Thanks, that was helpful. I had read some posts of people with valve issue which led to the post. I was recently looking at an RV park where the dump station was near the top of a windy hill you somehow had to back into. But that is probably a rare exception.

I'm sure they do fail but not often and they have a good lifespan.

A dump station you back into? Completely honest, we've never seen one you have to back into. Not saying they aren't out there but they must be very rare. Pretty much standard that they are pull thru. On sunday afternoon when the park is clearing out, it would cause a huge traffic jam.

Wood Valley Kampground in Valley Center, CA. Its existence reawakened my interest in 5th wheels, as it is near a place I like to visit, with little in the way of other accomodations in the area. The pool is right behind the dump station. I have since learned Wood Valley has marginal reviews.

[BigLoser]

INCINOLET

PRICEY!! Probably not practical for boondocking but thought it might warrant some consideration.

[valhalla360]

diver110 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
We don't have one in the 5th wheel but we've had one in the boat for around 6yrs.

Assuming can get access to a dump station on a regular basis, I would say they are a waste of time in an RV. It's quick easy and painless to dump an RV tank. Unless you do something to mess it up, the valves last many years.

On a boat, it's a different matter.
- Every campground has a dump station or on site sewer. While it's mandatory to have holding tanks, it's not uncommon to find you must take the boat hours travel away to find a pump out.
- Boat plumbing forces the solids thru hoses only 1.5" in diameter often with 90 degree bends. All done with complicated pumping mechanisms. In your RV, it's all gravity fed thru 4" diameter pipes with minimal bends. If you are inserting solids with greater than 4" diameter...you need to see a doctor.


- When you have a leak in a boat, it is stored in the bilge, often completely out of reach. In an RV, it typically winds up on the ground.

The problems that pushed us to get a composter for the boat largely don't exist for an RV.

Thanks, that was helpful. I had read some posts of people with valve issue which led to the post. I was recently looking at an RV park where the dump station was near the top of a windy hill you somehow had to back into. But that is probably a rare exception.

I'm sure they do fail but not often and they have a good lifespan.

A dump station you back into? Completely honest, we've never seen one you have to back into. Not saying they aren't out there but they must be very rare. Pretty much standard that they are pull thru. On sunday afternoon when the park is clearing out, it would cause a huge traffic jam.

[valhalla360]

aruba5er wrote:
they are rather large, the ones I've seen. I could not put anything that large in my bathroom. And the one's I've seen are very Expensive $1700 up

I think we paid $700 and there are more models out there.

The Natures Head is a little larger but at least the seat is adult sized. It would fit in most RV bathrooms without a lot of trouble.

[aruba5er]

they are rather large, the ones I've seen. I could not put anything that large in my bathroom. And the one's I've seen are very Expensive $1700 up

[diver110]

valhalla360 wrote:
We don't have one in the 5th wheel but we've had one in the boat for around 6yrs.

Assuming can get access to a dump station on a regular basis, I would say they are a waste of time in an RV. It's quick easy and painless to dump an RV tank. Unless you do something to mess it up, the valves last many years.

On a boat, it's a different matter.
- Every campground has a dump station or on site sewer. While it's mandatory to have holding tanks, it's not uncommon to find you must take the boat hours travel away to find a pump out.
- Boat plumbing forces the solids thru hoses only 1.5" in diameter often with 90 degree bends. All done with complicated pumping mechanisms. In your RV, it's all gravity fed thru 4" diameter pipes with minimal bends. If you are inserting solids with greater than 4" diameter...you need to see a doctor.


- When you have a leak in a boat, it is stored in the bilge, often completely out of reach. In an RV, it typically winds up on the ground.

The problems that pushed us to get a composter for the boat largely don't exist for an RV.

Thanks, that was helpful. I had read some posts of people with valve issue which led to the post. I was recently looking at an RV park where the dump station was near the top of a windy hill you somehow had to back into. But that is probably a rare exception.

[valhalla360]

We don't have one in the 5th wheel but we've had one in the boat for around 6yrs.

Assuming can get access to a dump station on a regular basis, I would say they are a waste of time in an RV. It's quick easy and painless to dump an RV tank. Unless you do something to mess it up, the valves last many years.

On a boat, it's a different matter.
- Every campground has a dump station or on site sewer. While it's mandatory to have holding tanks, it's not uncommon to find you must take the boat hours travel away to find a pump out.
- Boat plumbing forces the solids thru hoses only 1.5" in diameter often with 90 degree bends. All done with complicated pumping mechanisms. In your RV, it's all gravity fed thru 4" diameter pipes with minimal bends. If you are inserting solids with greater than 4" diameter...you need to see a doctor.
- When you have a leak in a boat, it is stored in the bilge, often completely out of reach. In an RV, it typically winds up on the ground.

The problems that pushed us to get a composter for the boat largely don't exist for an RV.

[Dakota98]

Composting Toilet

This was in a posting here on RV Net about 10 days ago. Search within their blog & you'll find some info.

This young couple built a Tiny House on wheels & are using a composting toilet in it. I bet if you contact them, they will answer your questions.

I believe this is the one they are using.
AMAZON

[2oldman]

I wouldn't have thought so, but there are 4 pages of posts with the words composting and toilet in them.

[amandasgramma]

I'm interested in this, too...DH keeps threatening to put one in....:)